Miss World 2008 will be hosted by Johannesburg - World Class African City.The first batch of Miss World contestants including Miss World Malaysia 2008 Soo Wincci will arrived at Johannesburg on Sunday 16th November.The 58th Miss World Final will be held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday 13th December 2008.Contestants will enjoy a full South African authentic experience and during their 4 week stay will visit many exciting landmarks of South Africa.

Soo Wincci can speaks and sings in five languages – Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, French, Japanese and a bit of Korean. During the talent portion of Miss World Malaysia, Wincci performed her own composition (written by herself) which probably helped garnered the points towards her side. The song was about giving hope to children. Seems apt when one her hobbies are singing.She’s got a great voice and I’m sure she will make Malaysia proud.

Malaysian Law Graduate Soo Wincci smiles after she was elected Miss Malaysia World 2008 in Kuala Lumpur late on August 9, 2008.

Soo Wincci showed off her elegant evening gown, aptly named the 'Jewel of the Pacific', which was specially designed by the official couturier of Miss World Malaysia 2008, Carven Ong.She will take on the stage in Johannesburg in the gown to compete against 100 other contestants from around the world for the 'Best Designer Award'."This gown, much like its name is truly beautiful. I really love its colour and design which fits my style and reflects my personality perfectly," said Wincci, 23, who hails from Petaling Jaya.

SOO WINCCI SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL

UPDATE: 17 NOV 2008

ONE hundred and fifteen of the world’s most beautiful women will descend on South African shores to prepare for the Miss World 2008 pageant taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre in December. The City of Joburg welcomed the first group of contestants of the Miss World 2008 Festival at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg on 16 Nov 2008.Contestants were warmly welcomed by the organizing board and brought to Sandton Sun Hotel in the centre of Johannesburg, one of the best hotels in South Africa.Last night contestants met with the Chairwoman of Miss World Organization, Julia Morley. Today they will be shot for an introduction video clip, practice at Convention Center and attend a night party.

The 110 contestants of Miss World 2008 pose for photos in Johannesburg during a tour of the city. On Wednesday, the beauties will leave the city to tour various places around South Africa for filming purposes.

UPDATE: 26 NOV 2008

Miss World Contestants travel to Durban for Beachwear round

Miss World 2008 pageant arrive in the city for a four-day beach and swimwear stint. The contestants will stay at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel on Durban’s Golden Mile and will take advantage of the city’s sultry summer weather with special beach photo shoots. The Beach Beauty finals and official swimwear shoot will take place at the luxurious Beverly Hills hotel in Umhlanga.

The Beach Beauty 2008 event took place at the beach of the Beverly Hills resort in Umhlanga Rocks, with the participation of this year's 110 contestants vying for the Miss World title.MALAYSIA Soo Wincci, MONGOLIA Anun Chinbat, MONTENEGRO Mariana Mihajlović

UPDATE: 4 Dec 2008

Soo Wincci latest photo during Miss World 2008 Top Model Award round.She was in top 32 Semi- Finalists.

JOHANNESBURG – Ksenya Sukhinova from Russia was crowned Miss World 2008 after beating 108 other international beauties in a glittering African extravaganza held in South Africa on Saturday."And Miss World 2008 is Russia," announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event.The second runner up was Gabriel Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and the first runner up Parvathay Omanakuttan of India.

Top 5 Finalists:

Miss Russia

Miss India

Miss Trinidad & Tobago

Miss Angola

Miss South Africa

15 Semi Finalists:

Miss Angola Miss Barbados Miss Brazil

Miss Croatia Miss Iceland Miss India

Miss Kazakhstan MIss Mexico Miss Puerto Rico

Miss Russia Miss South Africa Miss Spain

Miss Trinidad & Tobago Miss Ukraine Miss Venezuela

World Designer Award: Miss United States

MORE UPDATEAUG 2009

Ex-Miss World Malaysia Soo Wincci launches muhibbah-style mini album

Soo Wincci is so used to performing on stage that she had to hold a fake mike in the studio to help her record her debut mini album.“Sometimes, I make do with a water bottle, and everybody would laugh at me,” she told the audience who attended the launching of her trilingual album on Tuesday.Soo, the Miss World Malaysia 2008/2009, recorded her debut mini album with a “Miss Malaysia, One Malaysia concept”.She added that as Miss World Malaysia, she should represent the country and chose the muhibbah theme by singing in three languages.Soo, the first Malaysian beauty queen to launch a career as a singer-songwriter, is ela-ted that her hard work has finally borne fruit.

The launch was also doubly meaningful as the date marked the one-year anniversary of her crowning as Miss World Malaysia.

Her self-titled six-track album comprises an English song (composed for the world pageant after her crowning), one Malay song and four Chinese songs.

At the launching, Soo dazzled the audience in a blue sequinned mini-dress while she played the piano and sang four songs: Ban Kai De Mi Mi (Secret, Half Revealed), Beauty With a Purpose, Cinta Abadi (Everlasting Love) and Yi Yan Meng Huan (Dream).

She also shared one of her newly-composed melodies, which she intends to include in her next album.

The hard-working lass intends to continue writing her own songs and learn musical arrangement “to prove that she is not just a pretty face who can sing but an artiste who has other talents as well”.

PETALING JAYA: Beauty queen-turned-entertainer Soo Wincci is getting more connected to her Malay friends and fans by joining them in fasting this Ramadan.

“No, I didn't convert nor do I have a Muslim boyfriend. I'm single right now,” she said with a laugh, adding that she was fasting as a gesture of appreciation to her Malay fans.

Being in a food haven like Taiwan has not stopped the 27-year-old from fasting.

Soo, who is in Taiwan for work, said she had to wake up at 3am for sahur while she broke fast at Taiwan's famous night markets.

“Initially, I was apprehensive as Taiwan is known for its good food but I'm touched to see my Muslim fans leaving comments of encouragement on my Twitter and Facebook,” she said, adding that she plans to break fast at orphanages when she comes back to Malaysia.

Her popularity among Malay audiences soared when she became a finalist on MasterChef Celebrity Malaysia.

Her first Malay pop album, Terus Teranglah, is set to win her more fans.

“Because of MasterChef, more people now know me and know that I'm also a singer,” she said.

“This is a stepping stone for me and it will also help me polish up my Bahasa Malaysia.”

The former Miss Malaysia World 2008 said she had always enjoyed Malay and Indonesian songs and listened to a lot of songs by Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Kris Dayanti.

“Every time I sing, especially abroad, I include at least one Malay song in the set. It's the best way to express my Malaysian identity,” she said.

For Terus Teranglah, Soo went to songwriter, producer and hit-maker Ajai, who composed all four tracks on her EP.